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In this Update:
PA Treasurer Announces Short-Term Funding for Head Start, County Services
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department will make $500 million available for Pennsylvania’s Head Start providers and county governments, helping to keep essential services funded while the 2025-26 state budget is finalized. The funds will be distributed via short-term, investment loans which recipients will be required to pay back following enactment of a state budget. Treasurer Stacy Garrity said that to be eligible for this program, Head Start providers and county governments must indicate the investment will be used for immediate operating expenses. More information is available from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. Lock Haven Celebrates Banner Day for Hometown Heroes
As a U.S. Air Force veteran and a retiree from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, it was my honor to speak at the Lock Haven Hometown Heroes Banner Ceremony this past Saturday. This event is a biannual celebration of Clinton County heroes — military members and veterans who protect us from harm abroad and at home, alongside our first responders and health care workers who keep us safe at home. For me, these events are always deeply personal. The banners, just like the bridges we frequently dedicate, are here to remind us of the freedoms we enjoy as American citizens because of their service and sacrifice. PHC4 Launches New Health Care Access Mapping Tool
Expanding on the mission of addressing the rapidly growing cost of health care through transparent health care reporting, the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) has launched a new online tool visualizing the availability of health care services and facilities across the Commonwealth. MAPPED 2 identifies where there is a lack of health care access for patients in different counties. This resource enables one to search and filter to easily find available services offered by hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and nursing homes, within specific locations. Legislators, health care providers, and researchers can also use this tool to explore health care deserts across the Commonwealth. If a specific county is not listed, then there are none of those types of services/entities available. MAPPED 2 is the second online resource of its kind released by PHC4 in recent years. The first, MAPPED 1, displays ownership of hospitals and ASCs across Pennsylvania. For more information, visit MAPPED 2, MAPPED 1, or PHC4’s archive of publicly available reports at phc4.org. Fire and EMS Funding Assistance Available
Our local fire and EMS companies are committed to saving lives and protecting property, so I’m pleased to announce they can apply now for assistance through the state Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grants program. The funding is available to volunteer or career fire, rescue and EMS organizations and can be used for facility improvements, equipment purchase and repair, debt reduction, training and certification, and more. The deadline to apply is Oct. 20. More information, important dates and the online application can be found here. Senate Votes to Help Relieve Long-Term Care Worker Shortage
The number of Pennsylvania residents ages 65 and over is expected to nearly double by 2040, but even now many nursing facilities are forced to take beds out of service because they can’t fill direct care positions. The Senate recently passed legislation to tackle this critical problem by making it easier for those seeking employment at long-term care centers while still ensuring employees are well-qualified. Senate Bill 114 would encourage more employees to join the long-term care workforce by expanding the availability of training courses for nurse aides and the eligibility for individuals to take the nurse aide competency exam. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Measure to Help Veteran-Owned Businesses Approved by Senate
Beyond serving our nation in the military, many veterans create jobs through their entrepreneurial spirit. We approved legislation to promote these veteran-owned businesses. Senate Bill 64 would authorize the creation of a special logo to promote veteran-owned businesses. To be eligible, a business must be registered with the Department of State and at least 51% of the ownership interest must be held by a veteran, reservist or member of the National Guard. To discourage the logo from being used fraudulently, anyone who falsely claims to be a veteran to obtain this designation would face a misdemeanor of the third degree. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Expanding Government Transparency with OpenBookPA
The Pennsylvania Treasury has launched an expanded portal for state government transparency, providing taxpayers with more tools to explore state finance details. OpenBookPA’s new features include:
Announced by Treasurer Stacy Garrity earlier this month, OpenBookPA also links to the Treasury Checkbook, which includes payments made by Treasury to vendors and the Contracts e-Library, which makes available state contracts, purchase orders and amendments valued at $5,000 or more for public review.
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